Reports indicate that Nick Kyrgios is planning a return to competition on the grass courts of Stuttgart and Mallorca. Whereas the specifics of his comeback remain a focal point for fans and analysts, the Australian’s career is already defined by a rare statistical achievement that places him in an elite tier of tennis history.
Kyrgios belongs to a remarkably small group of players who managed to defeat all three members of the “Large Three”—Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal—the very first time he faced each of them. According to professional records, Kyrgios is only the third player to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of former world No. 12 Dominik Hrbaty and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.
The “First-Meeting” Club
In the era of the Big Three, the sheer dominance of Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal made it common for opposing players to struggle in their initial encounters. Beating one of these legends in a debut match is a significant achievement; beating all three is a statistical anomaly.
This distinction highlights Kyrgios’ ability to disrupt the rhythm of the game’s most consistent winners from the outset. By securing wins in his first meetings with the trio, Kyrgios demonstrated a level of unpredictability and raw talent that could bypass the tactical preparation usually employed by the Big Three.
The Peers: Dominik Hrbaty and Lleyton Hewitt
To understand the scale of this achievement, one must look at the other two men who shared this milestone. Dominik Hrbaty, a Slovak professional who turned pro in 1996, was a mainstay of the tour during the rise of the Big Three. Hrbaty, who reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 in October 2005, was known for his tenacity and technical skill, evidenced by his run to the semifinals of the 1999 French Open.
Lleyton Hewitt, the other member of this exclusive group, provides a different perspective on the rivalry. While Hewitt was able to claim first-meeting victories over the trio, he also faced the full weight of their dominance as their careers progressed. For example, at the 2005 Pacific Life Open (now known as the Indian Wells Masters), defending champion Roger Federer defeated Hewitt in the final with a score of 6–2, 6–4, 6–4. In that particular tournament, Federer was dominant, not dropping a single set on his way to the title.
For global readers, the grass-court season—where Kyrgios reportedly plans his return—is the shortest and most specialized part of the ATP calendar. The fast surfaces of Stuttgart and Mallorca require a specific set of skills, primarily a powerful serve and efficient net play, which have historically been the hallmarks of Kyrgios’ game.
Career Context and Implications
The ability to beat the Big Three in their first encounters speaks to a specific psychological edge. Most players enter a match against Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic facing a daunting aura of invincibility. Kyrgios, Hrbaty, and Hewitt were among the few who could neutralize that pressure immediately.
For Kyrgios, a return to the grass courts would be a strategic move. Grass rewards the aggressive, high-risk style he employs, and the timing would allow him to find his rhythm before the season’s major championships. However, the gap in match play means he will be facing a new generation of opponents who did not grow up in the shadow of the Big Three’s early-match dominance.
As the tennis world awaits official confirmation of his entry lists for Stuttgart and Mallorca, the focus remains on whether Kyrgios can recapture the form that allowed him to conquer the greatest players in history upon their first meeting.
The next confirmed checkpoint for Nick Kyrgios will be the official release of the entry lists for the upcoming grass-court tournaments in Germany and Spain.
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